Search continues as couple on board missing plane from Tasmania to NSW identified
Gregory Vaughan, 72, was piloting a light green sport aircraft carrying his partner Kim Worner, 66, and their dog, Molly, when it disappeared on Saturday afternoon.
They departed George Town Airport in Tasmania about 12.45pm, bound for Central West NSW to visit family, with a planned stopover at Leongatha, in regional Victoria.
However, the plane never arrived, prompting concerned family members to raise the alarm on Saturday evening.
Tasmania Police on Tuesday released the Deloraine couple's names, with permission from their family.
'The longer Gregory and Kim are missing, the greater the concerns are for their welfare,' Inspector Nick Clark said.
Clark urged anyone with information that could assist the search to come forward.
'If anyone has information that could assist the search, has seen a plane matching this description, or noticed anything such as unusual debris on land or in the water, they should contact Tasmania Police on 131 444,' Clark said.
The missing plane is described as a two-seater Bristell S-LSA in a distinctive light green colour.
It was reportedly purchased by Vaughan just three to four months ago.
While Vaughan is said to be a 'very experienced' pilot, police said he would still be relatively new to this specific aircraft.
George Town-based flight instructor Eugene Reid told the ABC flights across Bass Strait were required to make contact with air authorities.
'On leaving the coast, they should have called up air services,' Reid said.
However, Clark confirmed the couple had made no contact with authorities after taking off from George Town.
On Tuesday, a Tasmania Police helicopter crew conducted sweeps of the state's northern coastline between George Town and Turners Beach, but there has been no sighting of the plane.
Search conditions have been hampered by poor weather and low cloud cover.
Boats have not been deployed due to rough seas.
Clark said the search would continue on Wednesday.
'Significant resources have been utilised in the search and Pol Air will continue to be used over the next two days, at which time the search efforts will be re-assessed based on any possible new information that becomes available,' he said.
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